Mary Catherine Rogers (born Mary Skeahan, 2 August 1872 − 25 September 1932) was an Australian magistrate, trade unionist, and the first woman elected to local government in Victoria.

Early years

Rogers was raised in East Melbourne, and attended a local Catholic school. She married Patrick Denis Rogers in 1900 and had five children, although one died in infancy.^[1]

After her husband died in 1910, Rogers initially worked as a cleaner, before being appointed secretary, then president, of the Women Office Cleaners' Union, and later vice-president of the Miscellaneous Workers' Union.^[1][2]

Political career

Rogers became an organiser for the Australian Labor Party in 1918, serving as secretary of the party's North Richmond branch for several years.

On 5 November 1920, she was elected to Richmond City Council at a by-election, becoming he first woman elected to local government in Victoria, and the second in Australia (after Susan Benny).^[3]

Rogers was re-elected unopposed in 1922. In 1925, she became a member of the council's finance and legislative committee, but was at the elections in August later that year.^[2]

Later life and death

In 1928, she became one of first women to be appointed a justice of the peace in Victoria, serving as a special magistrate at the Children's Court at Richmond.^[2][4]

Rogers died of cancer on 25 September 1932, and was buried at Boroondara Cemetery in Kew. Future federal Labor leader Arthur Calwell was a pallbearer at her funeral, where several prominent Labor and trade union officials were present.^[2]

Legacy

In March 2016, the City of Yarra (the successor to the City of Richmond) replaced the green and male silhouettes at traffic lights with a likeness of Rogers.^[3]

Mary Rogers Square on the corner of Church Street and Bridge Road in Richmond is named after Rogers.^[5]

References